End Evaluation and Learning Review of the Fish Farming Project Phase II at SWISSAID Tanzania, August 2026

Consultancy Opportunity

Organization: SWISSAID Tanzania
Assignment: Independent End Evaluation and Learning Review of the Fish Farming Project Phase II
Project Title: Improving Coastal Communities’ Livelihoods through Agroecological Aquaculture for Resilient Food Security and Ecosystem Conservation
Location: Selected project sites in Lindi and Mtwara Regions, Tanzania
Project Period: January 2024 – December 2026
Assignment Duration: Approximately 40 working days
Application Deadline: 25 August 2026
Submission Email: info@swissaidtanzania.org

About the Assignment

SWISSAID Tanzania is seeking a qualified consultant or evaluation team to conduct an independent end evaluation and learning review of its Fish Farming Project Phase II.

The project promotes sustainable fish farming, seaweed farming, mangrove conservation, and improved livelihoods among coastal communities in Lindi and Mtwara. It focuses on sustainable aquaculture and mariculture, including milkfish, tilapia, and seaweed, alongside coastal ecosystem conservation.

The project follows a PUSH–PULL–POLICY approach:

• PUSH: Improved production through training, fingerlings, pond management, demonstrations, and technical services.
• PULL: Income generation through value addition, business planning, product development, and market access.
• POLICY: Strengthening local governance through Beach Management Units (BMUs), Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs), bylaws, mangrove conservation, and district-level ownership.

Purpose of the Evaluation

The evaluation will assess the project’s:

• Achievements
• Challenges
• Lessons learned
• Sustainability prospects
• Contribution to aquaculture and mariculture production
• Contribution to income generation and food security
• Contribution to household resilience
• Ecosystem conservation
• Gender and youth inclusion
• Local ownership

It will also provide practical recommendations for future project design, phase-out planning, partner engagement, and scaling successful models.

Specific Objectives

The evaluation will:

• Assess the project’s relevance to the needs of coastal communities and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate improvements in milkfish, tilapia, seaweed, and related livelihood activities.
• Assess contributions to household income, food security, nutrition, and resilience.
• Examine the effectiveness of the PUSH–PULL–POLICY approach.
• Review technical support, farmer training, demonstrations, fingerling distribution, and extension services.
• Analyse challenges affecting fish production, including climate shocks, pond management, fingerling availability, feeding practices, and technical capacity.
• Assess seaweed value addition, business planning, product development, and market linkages.
• Review mangrove rehabilitation, seasonal nursery closures, BMU/VNRC collaboration, and local governance.
• Assess participation and benefits for women, youth, farmers, fishers, and other groups.
• Recommend approaches for sustaining and scaling successful models.

Scope of the Evaluation

Geographic Scope

The evaluation will cover selected project sites in:

• Lindi Municipal
• Mtama District
• Mtwara Rural
• Other relevant project areas

Sites may include:

• Freshwater fishponds
• Saltwater milkfish ponds
• Seaweed farming areas
• Mangrove restoration sites
• Seasonal nursery closure areas
• Group business sites
• Community and school demonstration sites

Thematic Areas

The evaluation will focus on:

1. Aquaculture and Mariculture Production
2. Fingerling Supply and Technical Services
3. Farmer Learning and Adoption
4. Food Security and Resilience
5. Income Generation and Market Development
6. Gender, Youth and Inclusion
7. Ecosystem Conservation and Governance
8. Sustainability and Scaling

Evaluation Methodology

The consultant will use a participatory and mixed-method approach, combining:

• Document review
• Key informant interviews
• Focus group discussions
• Field visits
• Direct observation
• Institutional assessment
• Market and value-chain assessment
• Stakeholder consultations

The evaluation will triangulate information from different sources to ensure that findings are evidence-based and useful for decision-making.

Key Stakeholders

Interviews and consultations may involve:

• SWISSAID Tanzania management, programme, finance, and M&E staff
• District Fisheries Officers
• FETA representatives
• SoAF/UDSM researchers and technical staff
• LANGO and other implementing partners
• BMU and VNRC leaders
• Tanzania Forest Services representatives
• Local government officials
• Project steering committee members
• Fish farming and seaweed group leaders
• Market actors, processors, and buyers
• School representatives where applicable

Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to submit:

1. Inception Report

Including:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Refined evaluation questions
• Evaluation matrix
• Methodology
• Sampling approach
• Stakeholder list
• Data collection tools
• Workplan and timeline
• Limitations and mitigation measures

2. Data Collection Tools

Including:

• Key informant interview guides
• Focus group discussion guides
• Field observation checklist
• Document review matrix
• Aquaculture production assessment tool
• Market and value-chain assessment tool
• Ecosystem governance and mangrove conservation checklist
• Partner and institutional capacity assessment tool
• Gender, youth, and inclusion checklist
• Sustainability and scaling assessment framework

3. Draft Evaluation Report

The draft report will present findings, analysis, conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations for review by SWISSAID Tanzania and selected partners.

4. Validation Presentation

A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations.

5. Final Evaluation Report

The final report should be clear, evidence-based, analytical, practical, and useful for decision-making.

Final Report Structure

The final report is expected to include:

• Cover page
• Table of contents
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Executive summary
• Introduction and background
• Purpose, objectives, and scope
• Methodology
• Project context and implementation journey
• Key achievements
• Findings by evaluation criteria
• Thematic analysis
• Challenges and lessons learned
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Annexes, including evaluation tools, stakeholder lists, documents reviewed, field sites visited, and supporting evidence.

Assignment Duration

The assignment will take approximately 40 working days, covering preparation, data collection, analysis, reporting, validation, and finalization.

Proposed Allocation

• Document review and inception preparation: 5 days
• Inception meeting and finalization of tools: 4 days
• Field data collection and stakeholder consultations: 10 days
• Data analysis and synthesis: 5 days
• Draft report preparation: 6 days
• Validation presentation: 1 day
• Final report preparation: 5–9 days

The final timeline will be agreed with SWISSAID Tanzania during the inception phase.

Required Qualifications and Experience

The consultant or evaluation team should have:

• At least a Master’s degree in fisheries, aquaculture, marine sciences, agriculture, environmental management, rural development, monitoring and evaluation, development studies, or a related field.
• Proven experience evaluating fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture, food systems, climate resilience, natural-resource management, or livelihood projects.
• Good understanding of fish farming systems, including milkfish, tilapia, seaweed, pond management, fingerlings, feeding, and value chains.
• Experience in market systems, value addition, business planning, income-generation analysis, and livelihood assessment.
• Experience with community-based natural-resource management, mangrove conservation, BMUs, VNRCs, bylaws, or coastal governance.
• Strong understanding of gender equality, youth inclusion, safeguarding, and participatory approaches.
• Experience working with NGOs, government institutions, research institutions, farmer groups, fishers, seaweed producers, and local communities.
• Excellent facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested consultants should submit a technical and financial proposal containing:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed methodology and evaluation approach
• Proposed sampling strategy
• Proposed workplan
• Team composition and roles
• CVs of key team members
• Relevant experience and references
• Financial proposal covering professional fees, travel, accommodation, communication, taxes, and other related costs
• Examples of similar assignments, where available

How to Apply

Submit the technical and financial proposal by email to:

info@swissaidtanzania.org

Deadline: 25 August 2026

Late submissions may not be considered.

Download Full Terms of Reference

Download the Full Tender Notice / Terms of Reference

Important: This is an independent consultancy/evaluation assignment, not a regular employment vacancy. Applicants should review the complete Terms of Reference before preparing their proposal.